Traveling

Update bus stoppage

Just briefly whats going on:
After Inle lake, which was amazing! although it rained quite a bit, we decided to take the bus to Mandalay and head to Hsipaw. Thing is, it freak rained for 3 days in Inle before we left (Bay of Bengal typhoon?)
Anyhow, we started on the bus and after just 2 hrs of driving (9hr trip) the bus stopped. There were trucks lined up as far as the eye could see... the road had been washed out.
So we were stuck in the middle of no where, really, for the nite (we left at 6pm) and most of the next day. The biggest problem was that no one knew when we would actually get to leave. We ddin't have any food. We all thought we would be on the bus overnight and get there around 4 am or smthg. We sorta slept thru the nite ( i obviously didn't and stood outside with my flashlight to help whomever got off the bus find a good place to pee) and in the morning no one knew much more than the night before. Thank goodness a couple from Singapore spoke Chinese and English, and another guy spoke Chinese and Burmese, so somehow we got the news from the busdriver (busdriver Burmese-chineseguy- singapore guy to us.)
We would go for walks and come back hoping that we would be moving but it wasnt happening. Around 2pm we got fed up and went out find food. the only thin left was white rice with peanuts. Thatwas it. Ok, a little scary because we really didnt know when we would be moving again.
Anyways, we got out finally- a ride that should have taken 9hrs turned into 27. When we got to Mandalay, there was a big sign in the guest house saying "Road to Mandalay- Closed". Good timing.

Went to another lazy town 9hrs away (no problem this time). Nice and realaxing. Spent most of my time with a retired Aussie lady who had bought a n amazing teak wood house (10000usd) and was selling coffee out of it. man i missed coffee. she was such a great lady. I want to retire in Myanmar too!
Also, the insurgents are around. well, they were a town over from where we were. This guy said that 3 days before we got there 2 armies tried to unite but the military got between them- 3 military died. But it was 3 days before I got there so there was no trouble ;)

If you are thinking of heading to Asia, please please please put Burma on your itinerary. It's a truly amazing country.

posted by jjoollee @ 4:10 AM